Vapor escape microchannel heat exchanger

A microchannel heat exchanger comprising:

• a. a first port for receiving liquid having a first temperature;
• b. a heat transferring element for channeling the liquid from the first port along an interface, wherein the vapor is generated while the liquid flows along the interface;
• c. a substantially hydrophobic membrane for separating vapor from the liquid, the membrane configured to transfer the vapor to a separate element and confine the liquid to the interface, wherein a majority of vapor exits through a second port in the separate element;
• and
• d. a third port coupled to the heat transferring element, the third port for exiting liquid having a second temperature.

A closed circulation loop for cooling a heat producing device, the loop comprising:

• a. a heat exchanging element in contact with the heat producing device, the heat exchanging element further comprising:
• i. a first element for channeling a liquid along a beat transfer region, wherein the liquid at a first temperature enters the first element through a first port;
• ii. a substantially hydrophobic vapor permeable membrane coupled to the first element, the vapor permeable membrane configured to transfer vapor in the first element to a second port, the vapor permeable membrane confining the liquid within the first element;
• and
• iii. a third port coupled to the first element, wherein liquid having a third temperature confined within the first element exits the heat exchanging element through the third port;
• and
• b. at least one heat rejector for cooling the vapor at a second temperature to the first temperature, wherein the vapor is received from the second port, thereby providing the liquid at the first temperature to the first port.

A method of assembling a microchannel heat exchanger for cooling a heat producing device comprising:

• a. providing a liquid chamber having a surface for transferring heat between the heat producing device and liquid flow along the surface, wherein the surface is patterned into a desired configuration;
• b. coupling a vapor chamber to the liquid chamber, wherein the vapor chamber is configured in a predetermined position with respect to the liquid chamber;
• and
• c. configuring a substantially hydrophobic vapor permeable membrane between the vapor chamber and the liquid chamber, the vapor permeable membrane operatively coupled with the liquid chamber such that only vapor formed in liquid chamber flows to the vapor chamber.

A microchannel heat exchanger for removing heat from a heat producing device comprising:

• a. a first chamber for channeling liquid along a surface configured to transfer heat between the heat exchanger and the heat producing device, thereby heating the liquid, wherein the surface includes an array of channels positioned in a predetermined pattern;
• b. a second chamber for collecting vapor from the heated liquid within the first chamber;
• and
• c. a substantially hydrophobic porous membrane for passing vapor from the first chamber to the second chamber, the porous membrane positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to substantially retain liquid within the first chamber.

A microchannel heat exchanger for removing heat from a heat producing device comprising:

• a. a first chamber for channeling liquid along a surface configured to transfer heat between the heat exchanger and the heat producing device, thereby heating the liquid, wherein the surface includes a roughened configuration;
• b. a second chamber for collecting vapor from the heated liquid within the first chamber;
• and
• c. a substantially hydrophobic porous membrane for passing vapor from the first chamber to the second chamber, the porous membrane positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to substantially retain liquid within the first chamber.

A microchannel heat exchanger for removing heat from a heat producing device comprising:

• a. a first chamber for channeling liquid along a surface configured to transfer heat between the heat exchanger and the heat producing device, thereby heating the liquid;
• b. a second chamber for collecting vapor from the heated liquid within the first chamber;
• and
• c. a substantially hydrophobic porous membrane for passing vapor from the first chamber to the second chamber, the porous membrane positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to substantially retain liquid within the first chamber,
• wherein the microchannel heat exchanger is integrally configured with the heat producing device.

A microchannel heat exchanger comprising:

• a. a first port for receiving liquid having a first temperature;
• b. a heat transferring element for channeling the liquid from the first port along an interface, the heat transferring element including an array of channels positioned in a predetermined pattern, wherein a vapor is generated while the liquid flows along the interface;
• and
• c. a substantially hydrophobic membrane for separating vapor from the liquid, the membrane configured to transfer the vapor to a separate element and confine the liquid to the interface, wherein a majority of vapor exits through a second port in the separate element.

A microchannel heat exchanger comprising:

• a. a first port for receiving liquid having a first temperature;
• b. a heat transferring element for channeling the liquid from the first port along a roughened interface, wherein the vapor is generated while the liquid flows along the roughened interface;
• and
• c. a substantially hydrophobic membrane for separating vapor from the liquid, the membrane configured to transfer the vapor to a separate element and confine the liquid to the roughened interface, wherein a majority of vapor exits through a second port in the separate element.

A microchannel heat exchanger comprising:

• a. a first port for receiving liquid having a first temperature;
• b. a heat transferring element for channeling the liquid from the first port along a interface, wherein the vapor is generated while the liquid flows along the interface;
• and
• c. a substantially hydrophobic membrane for separating vapor from the liquid, the membrane configured to transfer the vapor to a separate element and confine the liquid to the interface, wherein a majority of vapor exits through a second port in the separate element,
• wherein the microchannel heat exchanger is integrally configured with a heat producing device, the heat producing device for providing heat to the microchannel heat exchanger via the heat transferring element.

A closed circulation loop for cooling a heat producing device, the loop comprising:

• a. a heat exchanging element in contact with the heat producing device, the heat exchanging element further comprising:
• i. a first element for channeling a liquid along a heat transfer region, wherein the liquid at a first temperature enters the first element through a first port;
• and
• ii. a substantially hydrophobic vapor permeable membrane coupled to the first element, the vapor permeable membrane configured to transfer vapor in the first element to a second port, the vapor permeable membrane confining the liquid within the first element;
• iii. a third port coupled to the first element, wherein liquid having a third temperature confined within the first element exits the heat exchanging element through the third port;
• and
• b. at least one heat rejector for cooling the vapor at a second temperature to the first temperature, wherein the vapor is received from the second port, thereby providing the liquid at the first temperature to the first port;
• and
• c. at least one pump for pumping liquid to the heat exchanging element, wherein the at least one pump receives liquid at a predetermined temperature.

A method of assembling a microchannel heat exchanger for cooling a heat producing device comprising:

• a. providing a liquid chamber having a surface for transferring heat between the heat producing device and liquid flow along the surface, wherein the surface is patterned into a desired configuration;
• b. coupling a vapor chamber to the liquid chamber, wherein the vapor chamber is configured in a predetermined position with respect to the liquid chamber;
• c. configuring a substantially hydrophobic vapor permeable membrane between the vapor chamber and the liquid chamber, the vapor permeable membrane operatively coupled with the liquid chamber such that only vapor formed in liquid chamber flows to the vapor chamber;
• and
• d. coupling an outlet port to the liquid chamber, the outlet port configured to exit liquid having a second temperature from the microchannel heat exchanger.